How to get fit in 6-months

You could try this "Executive workout" regime for a mere 14-days, which sounds gruelling and quite frankly rather excessive, or you could try this: buy a dog and go for a brisk 1-hour walk with it every day, whatever the weather.

While on your walk you can listen to language training tapes on your portable tape machine (do they still make those?) or maybe listen to some Radio 3 on your portable radio - or maybe you do something with a dongle, a tweet and wifi shuffle - whatever takes your fancy. Or you could simply keep the noise to a minimum and look up and around you - listening for the noises of the world.

This is obviously best done in a beautiful park, or along quiet country lanes, over hills and dales - but any of the London commons will do. Plot a course that is as pleasant as possible - and, if you can, make it circular (rather than an out & back walk) since this makes it more interesting (for a change you can always revers the route).

If you are walking in town - take note of the buildings, particularly above the shop line, look at the trees (and if there aren't any, draft a letter to your council demanding they plant more).
Above all give yourself time to breath deeply and think (deeply if possible but let's just start with thinking, we don't want to rush in where angels lie in bed).

I can't promise you that you will be supper fit or look 10-years younger but I can be pretty certain that you will find the routine more pleasurable than balancing on a power ball and possibly easier to sustain, not just for a few months but for the next 10 years since both the dog and the walks will become part of your life in the way that pumping at some inanimate object never can.

Eat moderately, feel happy with yourself, talk to your dog (and your wife and children if you have them) and remember that: "With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world."

Blessings for a good day

Father Ignatius Brown